SpareTire Removal Problem....

OK so the tube like thingy from the rear bumper to the lowering mechanism that I believe is to guide the key/rod seems to have become detached from said mechanism therefore the key/rod s not lining up properly to turn whatever it is supposed to turn preventing the spare tire from being lowered. Any suggestions would be helpful. Just glad I didn't find this out somewhere on the road after getting a flat in the middle of the night in the rain....

Grab some liquid wrench or pb blaster and soak the mechanism as much as you can from under the truck. Assuming you're doing this on the 2005 in your signature if you've never lowered it before its probably rusted and seized up. You might have to do this for a couple of days, otherwise you'll end up cutting the cable or bracket that hold it up to get it off..